‘Caused unimaginable suffering’: PM Modi says ‘unfair’ and ‘one-sided’ Indus Waters Treaty not acceptable to India

During his address to the nation from the Red Fort on the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the “unfair” and “one-sided” Indus Waters Treaty will not be acceptable to India in the interest of the country and its farmers. He said that India will not tolerate the injustice brought by this agreement, due to which our farmers have suffered for decades.

The treaty was suspended by India following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians on April 22. According to the treaty, India has unrestricted access to the waters of the Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas rivers and the control of the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum rivers. However, Pakistan was getting a disproportionately larger share of water while India was unable to utilise its share, making the agreement unjust for India.

“India has decided that blood and water won’t flow together. Indians now came to know how unfair and one-sided the Indus Waters Treaty is,” he said. “Water flowing from India’s rivers is nurturing the farms of the enemy, while our own farmers and land have suffered without water.”

PM Modi added that the treaty has resulted in “unimaginable” harm to Indian farmers for over seven decades. In the interest of the nation and its farms, this agreement is not acceptable to India, he said. He added that Indus’ water belongs to Indians.

The prime minister also issued a stark warning to terrorists and those who support terrorists, saying that India will not distinguish between the two as they both are “equal enemies of humanity and are no different.” He further said that, like during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces will be given freedom to decide their strategy, terms, time, and targets if enemies continue their attempts against India in future. India is ready to give a befitting reply to them. He also said that India will not tolerate nuclear threats.